by Capitalizing on a Moment in Time
From Increased Technology Access to Improving Student Learning Experiences
According to 89% of district administrators, the pandemic and the resulting disruptions to traditional education has significantly and sustainably changed K-12 education. The steps undertaken to support continuity of learning have left an indelible mark on the ways teachers teach, parents engage, administrators lead, and students learn.
In this year’s annual Speak Up Congressional Briefing, we will share the latest national research findings to support this conclusion that the long tail impact of the pandemic and the resulting shifts to more technology-based instruction have forever changed our schools – and there is no going back to the past despite any lingering nostalgia for how education was prior to March 2020. During the 2021-22 school year, over 75,000 K-12 stakeholders participated in the Speak Up Research Project representing urban, rural and suburban schools and districts across the country. Their insights and perspectives on how school has changed over the past few years – and what is needed to improve learning experiences for all students is important information for everyone to hear.
The 2022 Speak Up Congressional Briefing will be a virtual event on the edWeb platform this year enabling participation by a wider audience of K-12 education stakeholders. Keynoting this year’s event is Kristina Ishmael, Deputy Director of the Office of Ed Tech in the US Department of Education. The research data comes to life with a panel of K-12 students from around the country who will respond to the findings and provide their own recommendations for improving American education. Those students represent schools in Alabama, California and Texas this year. Project Tomorrow is pleased to recognize the support of Finalsite in their sponsorship of Speak Up and this year’s Congressional Briefing. Lee Blakemore, President, K-12 Community Engagement at Finalsite, will share his comments on the importance of this year’s findings as well.
